Testing Water at LFS

[Waterbury Guy]

My tank is has been up and running fine for around five years, and I have not tested any water parameters for at least two years, if not three. Assuming most of my test kits are now bad. I wanted to bring some water into the LFS to test for PH, Calcium, Nitrite, Nitrate, Phosphate, Iodine, salinity, and alkalinity, just for a check up. I'm going to be starting an 8 gallon bio-cube shortly and just want to verify that I've been doing everything correctly. My question is, do the water paramaters "change" in relation to how long the water sample has been out of the tank?
TIA

 

[Shagsbeard]

pH certainly can. The others are pretty stable. Salinity can if you allow it to evaporate.

Now... a warning. Most LFS's I know will tell you "everything looks great... what fish do you want?" no mater what your tests show. Also, they typically only run a very qualitative set of tests rather than quantitative. By this I mean they only test for the presence of nitrate and not the concentraition of it. They stick a strip in it and if it turns pink they say "oh... you have some nitrite... I'd guess about 10 ppm." Not a very accurate assessment.

Your 8 gallon is going to need much more frequent care than you let your 55 go. A "small" change in water quality is going to be multiplied at least seven times from what it was in the 55. Keep a much closer eye on your system the smaller you go. I would highly recommend getting accurate, quantitative tests for ammonia (a real killer), Nitrate (a problem that can get out of hand over time), and pH (a real problem if it's not stable). The others you should test for you can rely on much less accurate assessments.

How's your tang doing in the 55? I'm hesitant to put one in my 75.

 

[Waterbury Guy]

>>How's your tang doing in the 55? I'm hesitant to put one in my 75.

Funny you should ask. He (or she) was my latest addition just this past sunday. So far doing well. I was very hesitant as well, but go the smallest one I could find (less than three inches). I have red bubble algae that I've read some tangs will eat, hope he does the trick.
Also thanks for the tips! Sounds like I should re-invest in my test kits as I'll for sure need them for my nano.

 

[05Xrunner]

well they will probably test with the kits they sell.
My store i go to is pretty good. If your water quality is just a tad out of whack they will tell you I wouldnt put any fish in there now and do a water change and come back in a few days. That doesnt mean they will tell you no even if you want to buy a fish. They are pretty good at helping out with keeping a healthy fish tank. I have been going to them for about 16years.